Sales, timers & fake discounts
Lesson 3 of 13 in our free Big Purchases guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
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Questions you'll answer
Which is the best test of whether a deal is good?
Quick facts
- Red flag: “WAS £299 NOW £89!” — Was it ever really £299? Inflated 'was' prices make deals look bigger.
- Red flag: “Deal ends in 04:59” — Countdown timer to rush you.
- Red flag: “Only 2 left in stock!” — Scarcity pressure — often not true.
- Red flag: “37 people have this in their basket” — Social proof pressure.
- Fact: “Fake urgency and misleading 'was' prices can break UK consumer law.” — Misleading pricing and pressure selling are unfair practices.
- Myth: “You have to buy during a sale or you'll never see that price again.” — Sales come round again and again.
- Fact: “Adding items to a wishlist and waiting a few days cuts impulse buys.” — If you still want it after a cool-off, great. Often you won't.